The agreement was achieved at the second Singapore-Malaysia Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting which was held via video conference yesterday, according to Singapore’s health ministry (MOH) statement issued here today.
The meeting was co-chaired by Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Transport and Health Dr Lam Pin Min with Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Health I Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
During the meeting, the JWG also agreed to continue entry screenings by both countries and to align temperature screening protocols by applying the same temperature cut-off (>37.5°C) for febrile travellers.
The statement said the co-chairs tasked the senior officials of the JWG to coordinate the implementation of these initiatives, which would serve as a comprehensive package to enhance joint border screening at both the land and sea borders connecting the two countries.
The JWG also acknowledged the recent establishment of the Singapore-Malaysia Special Working Committee (SWC) on Covid-19 to discuss a joint plan to ensure the safe and sustainable movement of people, goods and services between both countries during Malaysia’s movement control order.
MOH said the JWG agreed to continue health discussions specific to these matters separately under the SWC.
At the meeting, both countries also updated on the Covid-19 situations in their respective sides.
The third meeting of the JWG is planned for next month.
Work pass holders
Meanwhile, all new and existing work pass holders, including dependants, planning to enter Singapore from Malaysia, are required to obtain the approval from the republic’s manpower ministry (MOM) before they commence their journey.
In its website, the ministry said upon arrival in Singapore, all affected work pass holders will be placed on a mandatory 14-day stay-gome notice (SHN).
“When applying for entry approval, employers will be required to declare to MOM that they have arranged for suitable housing premises for these employees and have made appropriate arrangements for food for the duration of their SHN,” it said.
The ministry also advised the employers to inform their affected employees, including their dependents, not to make travel plans to Singapore until approval has been received from MOM.
“The employers will be required to send the MOM approval letter to the employees, who will need to show it to the airline staff upon check-in (if travelling by air) and at the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) checkpoint upon arrival in Singapore,” the statement said.
However, those conveying essential services, or supplies — lorry drivers, vegetable supply truckers, frozen supply truckers — via land and sea crossings will be exempted from MOM’s entry approval and SHN requirements.
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